Technology Skills in the Workplace: Information Professionals’ Current Use and Future Aspirations

Authors

  • Monica Maceli Pratt Institute | School of Information & Library Science
  • John J Burke Gardner-Harvey Library, Miami University Middletown

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6017/ital.v35i4.9540

Abstract

Information technology serves as an essential tool for today's information professional, with a need for ongoing research attention to assess the technological directions of the field over time. This paper presents the results of a survey of the technologies used by library and information science (LIS) practitioners, with attention to the combinations of technologies employed and the technology skills that practitioners wish to learn.  The most common technologies employed were: email, office productivity tools, web browsers, library catalog and database searching tools, and printers, with programming topping the list of most-desired technology skill to learn. Generally similar technology usage patterns were observed for early and later-career practitioners. Findings also suggested the relative rarity of emerging technologies, such as the makerspace, in current practice.

Author Biographies

Monica Maceli, Pratt Institute | School of Information & Library Science

Assistant Professor @ Pratt Institute | School of Information & Library Science

John J Burke, Gardner-Harvey Library, Miami University Middletown

Library Director & Principal Librarian

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Published

2016-12-30

How to Cite

Maceli, M., & Burke, J. J. (2016). Technology Skills in the Workplace: Information Professionals’ Current Use and Future Aspirations. Information Technology and Libraries, 35(4), 35–62. https://doi.org/10.6017/ital.v35i4.9540

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